THE REFINER'S FIRE

A dear friend just shared this with me this morning, please allow me share with you.

"Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?' He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it, then I know its fully refined.......

'If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you. Challenges and trials are meant to make you better not bitter.

Someone needs to know that God is watching over them. And, whatever he/she is going through will make him/her a better person in the end. I see God bringing out the best in You"

Peace

THE DIMENSIONS OF FELLOWSHIP, Part 3

The second dimension we will look at is
THE FELLOWSHIP OF LOVE:
This fellowship centers the fellowship of sharing, service, encouragement, etc. It is the essense of our living as sons and daughters of God. This (love) is our identity (John 13:35).  The fellowship of love is and will remain the life of our brotherhood; and Giving is the order or expression of it.
This fellowship involves sharing God’s word with others, forgiving the sins of others, interceeding for others, mutuality and involvement in the life and situations of others. This fellowship finds fulfillment in making the lives of others much better.

The fellowship of love puts self behind; it is selfless and born(made possible) only when the light has penetrated and is now the base of our living. (Gal. 6:2, Phil. 6, 1st John 4:8, 1:3, 6, James 4:3).

And then we have
THE FELLOWSHIP OF SUFFERING:
Please understand in this context that this suffering is not the type the world understands because it is beyond them. Only spiritual can get this because it is a spiritual truth.

This suffering is the crown(fulfillment) of the saint. It is not the state of being in pains or distress caused by uncontrollable events or happenings.No, this suffering is the constant exercise or testing of our faith, obedience, and passion as believers; this gives us fulfillment and a great sense of spirituality. This was the kind of fellowship the Apostles and early believers were bathed in.This dimension is expressed when the saint has been possessed by his love for Christ. It is what Christ lived through here on earth. It is the life of passion where a man finds joy in sacrifice because he is aware of its blessing on others and on his future. This fellowship is a fellowship of choice. A paradox of life which the ordinary man never fathom or accept.

“As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” -2nd Cor. 6:10.

The world can never understand this, and sadly, neither can some believers. This deep dimension is not one we can run from; Christ paid for it and we must walk in it. This is where we can fulfill our destiny, no where else. (Matt. 19:16-29).

The fellowship of suffering is not the life of poverty, or of lack or sickness, etc. No, it is the call of strong faith, great wealth and success, eternal rewards, life and power, both here and in eternity.  Those that will understand this most are those believers in anti-christian environments who experience daily persecutions. It has become their glory to give their lives for something so precious to them:Christ. This is who they live for, live in and is ready to lose their lives for. (Phil. 3:10, 1st Cor. 4:9-16).

Build up yourself in these fellowship with God. Seek Him through the Holy Ghost. Let Him bring you into deep intimacy with Himself and you’ll never be the same again. You will laugh at the face of challenges because you will be reigning over from the seat of Christ’s victory. (Job 5:6-8, Rom. 8:37)
Hallelujah!

Hope you were blessed by this complete series. Please feel free to share this light to others.

James